"The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows"

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows:  this is one of my favorite tumblr sites (and one of the few that isn't pure porn!).

Word porn, maybe.

But, it highlights words...gorgeous, gorgeous words that are, well, obscure.  But the definitions are SO eloquent that I feel like I'm swimming in "rightness" (<-obviously, I'm NOT as great with words).  And I love the thought: "there's a WORD for that?"

Here's one of my favorites recently...

nodus tollens

n. the realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore—that although you thought you were following the arc of the story, you keep finding yourself immersed in passages you don’t understand, that don’t even seem to belong in the same genre—which requires you to go back and reread the chapters you had originally skimmed to get to the good parts, only to learn that all along you were supposed to choose your own adventure.

I know!  I know this feeling exactly.  

Brrrr...

So this is the weather tomorrow.  I walk to work at about 8:30am.  Weird thing (weird on many levels) is that I used to live in Kazakhstan (yes Kazakhstan) and it would get to -20 degrees in the winter.  And I don't recall it being that cold.  But its been awhile.  And when I look at that "feels like" column above, I'm a bit panicked.  We've had 2 very mild winters in NY since I've lived here.  This will the my 3rd winter and I'm feeling like a rookie.

The other day I walked to work in a snow storm and there were flurries that were just pelting me in the face.  I covered the bottom half but snow was getting in my eyes!  I asked my native-NY'er coworker if people wear goggles in storms like that.  He laughed at me like I was the funniest woman alive.  

I'm trying to be practical here!  I have no idea what to wear to brave my walk to work tomorrow. 

Hello...Uber? 

Reviving this thing called 'blog'...

I think it's been almost 2 years since I've posted here.  Life is not so different. ha!

What's changed?  Well, I have a new job (started at Spotify in August of 2013), a new apartment (still in the West Village but a few blocks north...loving it!), and traveling WAY too much for work.  Other than that, I'm same ol' same ol'.

But, I'm thinking it's time to give this "personal blogging" thing another go.  Not specifically because I have anything important to say.  But, because I think, at times, it's just important to say something...anything.  To muse, to laugh, to complain, to roll your eyes at, to share...about life.  

We'll see how it goes.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  What will 2014 hold for you?

My goals:

• Learn to knit
• Learn to play the ukulele
• Don't let life pass me by as my nose is in a book (meaning, accept invitations to go out and LIVE!)
• Finish writing my short story / book (I'm at 50,000 words, 25,000 of those might be usable)
• Run a 5k (my goal every year and the one I never achieve...because I hate to run)
• Get a mammogram (right?)
• Send more snail mail letters & cards (someone has to keep the USPS in business!)

It's Already FEBRUARY?!!!!...

Wow, the last time I posted on this blog, it was 2 days before leaving for New York and to start my new job.  I am FLOORED that it's already been over 3 months.  First 2 living bi-coastal and in hotels...and this past month and a half in my new West Village apartment.  I still can't wrap my head around it all. 

Life can change quickly.  It's a crazy ride.

I'd love to update and share more detail but really, life has been mostly about work! I've barely had the chance to explore and enjoy the city . 

Biggest disappointment?  Unseasonably warm Winter and only 1 real snow day to show for it...

View from the front door of my apartment building...

If that's all I get this year, I will be seriously bummed...and pissed...LET IT SNOW!!!

My February resolution: enjoy NEW YORK more...

In NY I will...

...walk to work (unless I can't master walking in snow...tricky...)

...buy fresh flowers on the corner for my tiny, tiny apartment

...not fret that I am paying twice what I'd pay in SF for an apartment (and still carry a mortgage)

...spend as much time at High Line Park as possible

...try and stay at a bar until 4am closing at least once (I'm useless past midnight)

...feast at Le Bernardin (and profess my love to Eric Ripert)

...camp out at Mood Fabrics until I run into Tim Gunn (it's bound to happen, right?)

...say hello w/ a smile to every doorman I meet

...wear a Chargers jersey every Sunday during the football season

...try every new trendy workout in town (until my groupon runs out)

...not be afraid of rats, not be afraid of rats, not be afraid of rats (please, please, please don't let me see a rat)

...spend time in Brooklyn

...go to the 2012 US Open

...kick ass at my job

...make a point of meeting every acquaintance I have for coffee or a drink, since I have zero actual friends out there

...find true love & live happily ever after in a multi-million dollar penthouse.  Right, Carrie?

New chapter...

Well, it's been awhile, and a lot has happened in the past months.

I was laid off from my job.

Went on at least 50 job interviews.

Got offers. Turned down offers. Got turned down w/o offers.

Had my ego and self-esteem take a few kicks.

And finally landed on what could quite possibly be a dream opportunity.

Time to put my money where my mouth is so-to-speak and leave the comfy confines of the advertising agency world behind...onward to a tech startup (well, it's an ad-tech startup...baby steps!)  I've been preaching my entire career about doing what you're passionate about - and it's clear to all that I'm passionate about the startup world.  Luckily, my first foray is at a pretty established startup (already had C-series funding) and rests right on the border of advertising and technology (both what I know and what I love)

Oh, and I may have failed to mention...it's based in NEW YORK!  Yup - I'm doing what I never thought I'd do...leaving the Bay Area.  Let's see what NY has up her sleeve for me. 

The decision-making process was brutal.  And once I got out of the "take a job because I need a job" mode and really settled back into a place of power ("take a job because I want THIS job"), I found that the options were all pretty amazing and seemingly perfect for me.  

I had offers from:

• An ad agency where I could support all of the West region (with some kick-ass leadership and growing like crazy)
• A mobile app startup doing amazing, disruptive things in the industry, young & small but growing...fast...
• And a national position at an ad-tech startup that's almost a grown up, but needs that extra push to get them there.

The first was my comfort zone. The second where I thought I wanted to be.  The third, well, at the end of the day, turned out to be the perfect marriage of size, industry, and growth.  

So, away I go! But don't worry my love, Bay Area, I also support the Palo Alto office and will be back often.  You know I can't stay away long.  

And to my new home: be gentle. I am open to loving you if you treat me with kindness.  Surprise me everyday. Reveal hidden beauties about yourself to me. Introduce me to great people. Let me experience great success professionally and personally.  And keep me safe. 

"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do...

New York, these streets will make you feel brand new, street lights will inspire you..."

Torture tools...

My 2 obsessions as of late:

TRX suspension training

Pilates reformer machines

I have to admit, between TRX and the Pilates reformer, workouts aren't quite as miserable. Let's get real: I love food and beer too much to be a lean, mean, fighting machine.  But, with these workouts, I can feel a little less guilty when I down a Big Mac!